I have a friend who's an ESPN college football writer and she has a project where she's trying to interview some college football photographers, I thought a posting here in the sportshooter forum could help her out. If you can send anything along to her it would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what she says, her name is Chantel Jennings:

I'm working on a story for college football season and searching for any photographers that might've been the unlucky ones who have been hit by a football player when said player has made his way out of bounds after a play. Were you the photog that got run over by a running back? Or an accidental block on a wide receiver? I'm hoping to chat with you about your experience. Please hit me up at chantel@theathletic.com.

->> What's the purpose of the story? What's the hook and why now? Sideline injuries have been occurring for many decades. It is part of the job, and accepted as a related risk. I've had my bumps but nothing serious because I know how to do my job and watch out for myself and how to react.

Is there another story behind this, such as are colleges looking at restricting photo credentials to clear the sidelines like the NBA has done with on-court positions in the name of safety?

I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I can foresee some consequences down the line that could restrict us later on depending on the angle of the story. I'm from the era when we had a lot more room along the sidelines and used to be able to shoot above the glass at NHL games.

How about her doing a story on how photographer's are crowded like sardines because of all the alumni and guests that also share the sidelines with us where they walk in front of us to see the action and make photos with their kit cameras?

Yes, I've seen an increase in photographer injuries but they are also due to the shooters not being able to get out of the way at times because their escape paths are blocked by fans with on-field passes.

->> I agree with you Doug, and we already gave a bit of background to her on this, much like you've suggested. And I'll make sure that I recommend Chris too, as Matt said. I would rather not have this input be "weaponized" against us by anyone looking to restrict or limit our current access.

Haven't seen Matt since he came here for a Tigers game a couple of years ago, so thanks for your ideas guys!

->> I believe this article would HURT legitimately photographers who are covering football. They universities would look at this and look at this as the photographer is a liability on the field. I dont think this article will help the working photographers and the general public/fans who read these articles really could care less about this.

->> Thanks Marvin, and I just got a direct email from Matt Cashore who provided very good examples of how other people on the sidelines other than *working* photographers cause problems. People like the band, cheerleaders, fans, and anyone other than credentialed photographers.

Your comments will be included too.

Thanks for contributing, we need this to be covered and reported on fairly from our point of view.

Upon further review, based upon our input Chantel is going to go with a different story and angle.

Chantel wishes the cancel the story, so I'm going to pull the posting as active from the forum, so don't worry about any further chime in anymore.

Chantel was totally looking at it from a light-hearted human interest piece type angle where she could potentially get a player and photog who kept a relationship from a hit, but obviously most photogs are skittish about the whole subject regarding access, as is understandable!

I think we've made our voice heard with Chantel, so she understands about what we're concerned about.

->> Light-hearted? Being subjected to a potentially career ending injury is not light. And thus mine and others' reservations. Having covered college ball for over 40 years, I've never heard of a player and photog striking up an outside relationship resulting from a collision along the sidelines.

If she wants to do a better story, have her look at all the people on the field who are NOT working. A friend of mine got nailed pretty good one game because she couldn't get out of the way because her escape route was blocked by alumni and friends. But then that will probably tick off the colleges against ESPN.

->> I gave her my story, and I have the picture from the TV feed, where a TE who caught a TD pass came face to face with me because the freaking band was right behind me, and I had not place to go. Also, two years ago I was twice knocked in the head by TV crew running wires, then on their third try my 400mm and camera were ripped out of my hands and it ruined the camera body. Then lastly the story of the local photographer who had his knee ruined for life because he was run over, again, with no place to move thanks to "non-photographers". I'm not missing anything here.
Oh, and good call on Mickey Pfleger, thanks Robert, I remember that well, the pictures and the story.